Overview

The great white shark is the largest predatory fish on Earth, reaching over six metres and patrolling temperate coastlines worldwide. Counter to myth, they do not hunt humans deliberately — they investigate with exploratory bites and feed mainly on seals, sea lions, and large fish.

Great whites can detect a drop of blood in 100 litres of water and sense electromagnetic fields from prey with specialized organs. Cage diving off South Africa, California, and Australia offers controlled encounters with one of nature's most formidable predators.

Habitat

Cool to temperate coastal waters worldwide hold great whites — aggregation sites include South Africa's Gansbaai, California's Farallon Islands, and Australia's Neptune Islands. They migrate long distances and prefer areas with abundant seal populations.

Countries found

Interesting facts

01
Great whites can detect a drop of blood in 100 litres of water.
02
They can breach completely out of the water when attacking seals from below.
03
Great white populations are recovering in several regions after decades of decline.

Conservation status

VU — Vulnerable

Great white sharks are Vulnerable globally, threatened by fishing, bycatch, and finning. Protected status in South Africa, Australia, and California has helped some populations stabilise.